|
|
|
|
Spira running shoes are both revolutionary and controversial. While many brands claim that the cushioning in their shoes have superior spring rates, Spira literally puts springs in its shoes. Its patented wave spring technology stores impact energy and returns it back to you, up to 96% according to Michigan State University. This leads to less exertion and fatigue, and better performance. In fact it can increase a runner's performance so much that the USATF (the governing body for track and field events in the United States) has taken steps to ban the shoes in certain competitive events, claiming that they give an unfair advantage to whoever wears them. I'm not surprised it would do this to Spira, as any revolutionary idea takes a while to be accepted. I think as the brand grows on people, the USATF will lift its sanctions on the shoes. Until then, other manufacturers better enjoy their market shares while they last. I think Spira will have a huge following once the company matures. The mechanical nature of a Spira makes it the most durable. While the foams, rubbers, and polymers that other brands use break down after prolonged use, the springs in a Spira simply will not. You'll get the performance of a new shoe on every run until you wear out the rest of the shoe. Spiras fit on the narrow side, but they have lots of lightweight breathable mesh in the upper, so they are still fairly comfortable around the foot. The shoes are a bit firm. Many runners new to the brand think something like, "they must be really cushy since they have springs in them." Wrong. While the springs return a lot of energy and increase performance, they're still made out of metal and would understandably be really firm. As good as the shoes sound, I've heard from more than a couple of runners that they can feel where the springs are, and they sometimes hurt. When I tried on a pair I didn't feel the springs. Also, Spiras daily trainers, the Volare and Genesis, are on the heavier side. I typically recommend these shoes for heavier runners, as a lighter runner may not sink into the cushion enough to feel that cushy sensation. They'd feel like their wearing bricks instead. But Spira's performance based shoes, the Del Sol and Sting Ray are super lightweight and can compete with the bigger brands. Spira's a young company, and of course it's going to have to make some big improvements if they want to become a real player in the industry. But hey, what company doesn't have opportunities to improve when it's just starting out? Give it some time and I'm sure Spira will come out of nowhere and take the market by storm. Spira has a small selection, but I've categorized its shoes to help you find the one that's right for you. Whenever possible, I add the following notations where appropriate to help you get your ideal fit.
Stability Genesis series - Advanced
Neutral
Other Running Shoe Links
Helpful Links
|
|
|
